Republicans turn on MAGA as DeSantis, Romney and Haley blast midterms and look to GOP’s future

Republicans are questioning their direction after a sweeping Democratic win in the midterm elections, with several prominent party figures urging a reset while President Donald Trump showed little sign of regret. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is leaving office, described the outcome as an extinction-level event for the party and predicted it could be years, perhaps longer, before Republicans again hold unified control in Washington, according to The Independent.

Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who lost her 2024 presidential bid, said her party had tuned out voters worried about the cost of groceries, gas and health care, and had instead focused on Washington, citing self-dealing and corruption. Former Utah Sen. Mitt Romney posted on X that he hoped for a course correction, blaming tariffs, an Iran war, pardons, immigration enforcement abuses, deficits and the handling of Epstein. Meghan McCain said Trump's name no longer carries kingmaking power.

Trump, at his first appearance after the results, mainly discussed White House ballroom construction. Asked about regrets, he said no and claimed he would have won had he been on the ballot. Ohio GOP chair Matt Dole told Politico some Republicans may reject Trump's style but not his policies.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →